Colorado theater shooter James Holmes was transferred to another prison partly because another inmate pushed his way through a partially open door and attacked him, according to prison officials and documents released Thursday.
Holmes was coming out of an office with a case manager when a corrections officer opened a door to the area. The other inmate pushed his way through as officers tried to close it, according to documents detailing the October incident. The inmate hit Holmes in and around the head before officers pulled them apart. The inmate also struck the case manager in the face during the struggle.
The attack happened at the state’s highest security prison, the Colorado State Penitentiary, at a time when Holmes was being closely monitored and held in a pod by himself while prison officials sought more suitable housing for him.
Holmes wasn’t seriously injured in the attack, but it was among many reasons officials transferred him to a different prison in January, Colorado Department of Corrections spokeswoman Laurie Kilpatrick said.
Holmes was convicted in August of killing 12 people and injuring 70 more when he opened fire in a crowded Denver-area movie theater in July 2012. Jurors could not agree that he deserved the death penalty, so he is serving a life prison sentence.
Prison officials believed other inmates were likely to continue to target Holmes “because of the high profile nature of his crimes,” according to the documents, which were first reported by ABC News.
Officials refuse to reveal where Holmes is located, even to the families of his victims. The move, which sent him out of state or to a federal facility, was part of an exchange agreement with another prison. Officials refuse to provide details of the trade.
The inmate who attacked Holmes has received money and letters from strangers praising him, according to the documents.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Martin Edwards says
Ridiculous if this evil person can’t be executed. Why are the authorities prepared to spend millions on looking after an individual who they know beyond any doubt killed and maimed so many innocent people?
Dave says
Amen Martin.
Steve says
Should have let the inmate finish the job
Dave says
That, or let the same guy in once a week.
Helen Higgason says
If this would be allowed, in a prison ,,there would be no one safe place for any prisoner to be safe, if they weren’t a sinner like this dude was , there would be NO Need to have prisons , in the first place,,if these ignorant people would act like human being in the first place, there would no need for jails at all!!!!
Spike says
The other inmate was probably a Mexican, just doing what Americans won’t.
Bruce Shelly says
He should be executed immediately or let the prisoners have their way with him beating him to death would be too easy.
Let him suffer the way he made other people suffer. A good painful beating possibly a killing would be wonderful for a person who did what he did
Madmarmot says
Where do I send money?
Justin W says
James Holmes will probably get to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder. I have no problem with that. This guy murdered innocent people who were watching a movie. He doesn’t deserve a life of peace.
Jerry says
That’s too bad, That he did not get hurt much
Uncle Tom says
Give them time, he will get his just reward.
Stephen Russell says
Needs more experiences like this in prison with the GP
Might change his mind some
Alan Humphries says
He will spend the rest of his years in protective custody at tax payers expense protecting his sorry ass.One way or another someone will slip up and leave the coward alone and he will get his just reward.